Woman accused of swindling $14,679 from 92-year-old friend

Published: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 12:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 12:38 p.m.

A 59-year-old woman from The Villages has been arrested on charges of swindling $14,679 from a 92-year-old woman who thought of her as a friend.

Facts

LEARN TO AVOID SCAMS

A free Operation SAFE workshop is planned for 10-11:30 a.m. Oct. 16 at the Marion County Sheriff's Office Multi-Purpose Room. The workshop aims to help people avoid becoming victims of scams. Registration begins at 9 a.m. For information, visit www.myfloridacfo.com/SAFE or all 877-693-5236.

The Ocala Police Department offers a Seniors vs. Crime Program on from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Paddock Mall substation. OPD also provides a safety workshop for seniors on how to avoid scams. For more information, call 873-6377 or 369-7139.

Vicki Lee Laspina, of 17020 SE 96 Chapelwood Circle, was arrested Monday on larceny and fraud charges, according to a Marion County Sheriff's Office report. Laspina was released from the Marion County Jail early Tuesday on $5,000 bond.

A woman who answered Laspina's phone said she was resting as it had been a long night and she would deliver the reporter's message.

Laspina told Detective Bobby Levay she has known the victim for five years and is like a daughter to her. While briefly caring for the woman, she took her to Citizens First Bank at 8590 SE 165th Mulberry Lane in The Villages, where Laspina was added to the her checking account.

She claimed to be the victim's daughter, according to the report.

The next day, Laspina generated two cashier's checks — for $5,000 and $9,679 — from the victim's account without her consent, according to Levay's report.

A bank associate noticed something odd about Laspina's behavior. Everything seemed all right, the report states, “until the defendant went out of her way to say how well she knew (the teller), because (the teller) only met her the day before.”

The associate contacted her manager and then called the victim at her living facility, who told her Laspina did not have permission to take the money.

The victim told Levay she remembered going to the bank with Laspina and said she thought she was signing a check, not adding her to the checking account.

“One of the first things she said to me,” Levay wrote, “was 'how could a friend rob me of my money?' ”

That same day, Laspina called the detective and told him she had made a mistake by generating the checks without the elderly woman's consent and that she was going to tell the victim when the bank statement came in.

Officials said the woman told them she used the money to pay bills.

Law enforcement officials said they have seen multiple frauds and scams targeting the elderly. In some of cases, the victims are told they can claim a sweepstakes prize if they send cash for tax purposes ahead of time. In others, the con artist pretends to need money for a start-up business and promises repayment, which never materializes.

<p>A 59-year-old woman from The Villages has been arrested on charges of swindling $14,679 from a 92-year-old woman who thought of her as a friend.</p><p>Vicki Lee Laspina, of 17020 SE 96 Chapelwood Circle, was arrested Monday on larceny and fraud charges, according to a Marion County Sheriff's Office report. Laspina was released from the Marion County Jail early Tuesday on $5,000 bond.</p><p>A woman who answered Laspina's phone said she was resting as it had been a long night and she would deliver the reporter's message.</p><p>Laspina told Detective Bobby Levay she has known the victim for five years and is like a daughter to her. While briefly caring for the woman, she took her to Citizens First Bank at 8590 SE 165th Mulberry Lane in The Villages, where Laspina was added to the her checking account.</p><p>She claimed to be the victim's daughter, according to the report.</p><p>The next day, Laspina generated two cashier's checks — for $5,000 and $9,679 — from the victim's account without her consent, according to Levay's report.</p><p>A bank associate noticed something odd about Laspina's behavior. Everything seemed all right, the report states, “until the defendant went out of her way to say how well she knew (the teller), because (the teller) only met her the day before.”</p><p>The associate contacted her manager and then called the victim at her living facility, who told her Laspina did not have permission to take the money.</p><p>The victim told Levay she remembered going to the bank with Laspina and said she thought she was signing a check, not adding her to the checking account.</p><p>“One of the first things she said to me,” Levay wrote, “was 'how could a friend rob me of my money?' ”</p><p>That same day, Laspina called the detective and told him she had made a mistake by generating the checks without the elderly woman's consent and that she was going to tell the victim when the bank statement came in.</p><p>Officials said the woman told them she used the money to pay bills.</p><p>Law enforcement officials said they have seen multiple frauds and scams targeting the elderly. In some of cases, the victims are told they can claim a sweepstakes prize if they send cash for tax purposes ahead of time. In others, the con artist pretends to need money for a start-up business and promises repayment, which never materializes.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>